Synithia Williams - Overtime For Love

Like they’d talked the night he’d sat at her bar for hours. He hadn’t been interested in the women onstage, hadn’t drooled down the front of her shirt, or spent the entire time trying to get her to go home with him. He’d talked to her about movies, music, the right way to make a martini. She hadn’t truly enjoyed talking to a guy in a long time.

“Yeah, I like that, too.” His gaze probed hers. His pull made her want to reach out to him. Run her hands across the strength of his chest. Run her lips over the fullness of his.

Movement in the corner of her eye drew her attention. Keri smiled but there was a sharpness in her eyes as she walked over that made Angela step back from Isaiah.

“Everything good?” Keri asked, and when she looked at Angela her eyebrows drew slightly together.

If Cory had guessed there was a vibe between her and Isaiah after a few seconds, then she shouldn’t be surprised Keri would look concerned after she and Isaiah had been speaking for several minutes.

Angela acknowledged Keri’s concern with a nod. “Everything is fine. Isaiah stepped in with Cory this morning. He’s in a bit of a mood.” She smiled at Isaiah. “Thanks again. I better get to work.”

Isaiah tilted his head forward. The slight bow would have looked silly if another man had done it, but seemed fitting when Isaiah made the motion. “You’re more than welcome.”

Keri shifted next to Angela. Angela tore her gaze from Isaiah, said a quick goodbye to Keri and got out of there before she forgot that succumbing to Isaiah’s pull right now had consequences that would affect Cory. Three more weeks of camp and then maybe she’d be able to find out if he was into her, too. Angela smiled on her way to the car.

* * *

Isaiah watched Cory as he stared with all the longing of a teen in love. The target of his longing was Denise, one of the girls in the camp. Cory sat alone on the bleachers during the lunch break, watching Denise but never gathering the courage to walk over to speak to her. Cory’s crush on the girl was obvious, but if she looked his way, he stammered and walked away. All of his bravado on the court evaporated when Denise smiled at him.

Isaiah could relate to the boy’s struggle. He’d felt the same way when he was a teen. Felt that way now whenever Angela smiled at him. Just like an angel, the brightness of her smile struck him speechless. She must think he was ridiculous.

He’d blushed! What the hell. Kevin would take his man card if he knew.

“What are you frowning about?” his teammate Will Hampton asked.

Will sat next to Isaiah on the bleachers. He was taller than Isaiah at six foot six, with dark skin, a full beard and dark eyes that were always sparkling with laughter. Will lived life with an enthusiasm that tended to spill over to everyone around him. That’s why he was one of the most popular members on the team.

Isaiah pointed toward Cory across the gym. “Cory is too afraid to go over and speak to Denise.”

Will followed Isaiah’s gaze. “He has been giving her puppy-dog eyes from day one.”

“Thing is, she’s been giving him the same puppy-dog eyes. I think she would respond well if he decided to talk to her.”

“Then he should talk to her,” Will said with the confidence of a guy who’d never been afraid to approach a woman he was interested in. Isaiah couldn’t quite call Will a player because even though he always had a new woman on his arm, he always ended up their friend and was yet to have one of his flings get possessive or clingy with him. Isaiah had no idea how the man did that.

“You don’t know how hard it is to go up to a girl. I used to be petrified to talk to girls I liked when I was that age.”

Will grinned and slapped Isaiah on the back. “That’s because you were overthinking things. Women are easy. You smile, tell them they have nice eyes and before you know it, they’re giggling and eating up everything you’re spitting. Treat them with respect when you’re ready to move on, or make them think it’s their idea that they’re ending things and you’re golden.”

“Shut up,” Isaiah said without any heat. “The world already knows you wiggle your finger and women come flocking.”

Will laughed and tugged on his collar. “Hey, I’ve got a gift.”

Isaiah looked at Cory again. Angela had said he didn’t have to talk to Cory, but he wanted to know why the boy had been so rude to his aunt. Maybe it was something as simple as pining over a girl he liked. Isaiah stood. “I’ll go talk to him. He was giving his aunt a hard time earlier today. There may be a few things on his mind.”

“Isn’t his aunt that bartender at Sweethearts?” Will’s voice rose in interest.

“Yes.” Isaiah’s tone hardened. He gave Will a hard look.

Will only smiled and leaned back. “I thought so. You two talked for a long time the night we were all out.”

“And?”

“And is she the reason why you’re so concerned about Cory?”

Isaiah would have stepped in if any of the kids at camp had disrespected their parent or guardian in his vicinity. Yet, he couldn’t deny something else made him especially want to lend a helping hand in this case. “I’d help out no matter what and you know that. His aunt has nothing to do with this.”

“Uh-huh.” Will’s tone called Isaiah a liar.

“Bridget is coming to town in a few days. I’m not that kind of guy.”

Will’s smile grew. “Uh-huh.”

Isaiah ignored the teasing glint in Will’s eye and waved him off. He hopped down the bleachers and crossed the gym to Cory. Cory appeared to notice him, sitting up straighter and trying to look relaxed.

“I’m not doing anything,” he said.

Isaiah sat next to the kid. “I’m not going to give you a hard time. I just want to talk.”

“Everyone wants to talk,” Cory mumbled. He pulled on a shoestring and scowled.

“That’s because we care about how you’re feeling. If we didn’t care, we wouldn’t want to know what’s going on.”

Cory cocked his head in Isaiah’s direction. “We?” He sounded confused.

“Me and your aunt. You were giving her a hard time earlier today.”

Cory went back to pulling his shoestring. “I didn’t mean to.”

Isaiah tapped the boy’s side so that he’d look at him. “Then why were you?”

Cory dropped the shoestring and sat up. “She’s trying too hard,” he said in a rush.

“Trying too hard?”

Cory pulled on his fingers in a frustrated motion. “To act like I’m not a problem for her when I know I am. She’s treating me like I’m a little kid. Like she can’t be real with me. She just acts like everything is okay and when I offer to help she tells me to go play video games or something.”

“And that hit you this morning so you had to be rude to her?” Isaiah didn’t buy it. Something else had to be going on.

Cory frowned. “The other night I asked her if I could stay home by myself while she worked. I’m thirteen now. Most thirteen-year-olds stay home. Instead, she gets her friend Nate to babysit me every night she works late.” Cory said babysit as if it was an act of the highest treason.

A knot formed in Isaiah’s stomach. “Nate? Is that her boyfriend?”

Cory shook his head. “No, he lives next door and they’re friends. You don’t have to worry.”

“Why would I worry?”

Cory just gave Isaiah a look that said whatever. “Anyway, I know I’m a burden, but she’s trying too hard to make me think I’m not.”

Isaiah forced away thoughts of the nonboyfriend Nate and focused on Cory’s problem. “Maybe Angela doesn’t want to burden you with her problems. She’s the adult, you’re the kid.” When Cory glared, Isaiah held up a hand. “Last time I checked thirteen was still a minor. There’s nothing wrong with her not wanting to upset you.”